Ottawa police raided at least six marijuana dispensaries across the city in a co-ordinated operation on Friday morning.

The raids appeared to be targeted. The locations are all part of a B.C.-based chain that began opening dispensaries in town this summer under the names Green Tree, WeeMedical and CannaGreen.

Police raided CannaGreen on St. Joseph Boulevard; three Green Tree Medical Dispensary locations, one on Preston Street, one on Montreal Road and one on Bank Street; and two WeeMedical Dispensary locations on Rideau Street and on St. Laurent Boulevard.

Police have been investigating the dispensaries for months. They also sent letters to the landlords of dispensaries, warning that action could be taken if illegal activities continued. One landlord evicted a CannaGreen shop on Roydon Place earlier this week.

Tactical team members carry crowbars, hammers and specialty tools from the building as Ottawa police conduct raids on a number of pot shops including Wee Medical on Rideau St. It's believed they tried to open a safe but wasn't confirmed. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia

An officer places crime tape at the scene as Ottawa police conduct raids on a number of pot shops including Wee Medical on Rideau St. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia

A woman is arrested and placed in a cruiser as Ottawa police conduct raids on a number of pot shops including Wee Medical on Rideau Street.Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia

A man who went by the name "Curly" grimaces while being interrogated as Ottawa police conduct raids on a number of pot shops including Wee Medical on Rideau St. He later said he was released without charges as he was only a customer in the shop. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia

A woman is arrested and placed in a cruiser as Ottawa police conduct raids on a number of pot shops including Wee Medical on Rideau St. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia

A man who went by the name "Curly" looks out of the window while being interrogated as Ottawa police conduct raids on a number of pot shops including Wee Medical on Rideau St. He later said he was released without charges as he was only a customer in the shop. Wayne Cuddington/Postmedia

Ottawa Police load an ATM machine into a van during a raid on an illegal pot shop, Green Tree Medical Dispensary at 290 Montreal Rd. in Vanier Friday, November 4, 2016. It was part of a crack down on at least five of the city's 17 illegal pot shop.Darren Brown/Postmedia

Ottawa Police carry out a black bag during raid on an illegal pot shop, Green Tree Medical Dispensary at 290 Montreal Rd. in Vanier Friday, November 4, 2016. It was part of a crack down on at least five of the city's 17 illegal pot shops. Darren Brown/Postmedia

Ottawa Police raid an illegal pot shop, Green Tree Medical Dispensary at 290 Montreal Rd. in Vanier Friday, November 4, 2016. It was part of a crack down on at least five of the city's 17 illegal pot shops. Darren Brown/Postmedia

Ottawa Police carry out an ATM machine during a raid on an illegal pot shop, Green Tree Medical Dispensary at 290 Montreal Rd. in Vanier Friday, November 4, 2016. It was part of a crack down on at least five of the city's 17 illegal pot shops. Darren Brown/Postmedia

Ottawa Police raid an illegal pot shop, Green Tree Medical Dispensary at 290 Montreal Rd. in Vanier Friday, November 4, 2016. It was part of a crack down on at least five of the city's 17 illegal pot shops. Darren Brown/Postmedia

Police lead a person working at the marijuana dispensary out in handcuffs, taken away in police car.

"OPEN" sign still on as police inside raiding the dispensary. Brian Platt/Ottawa Citizen

Cops raiding weedical on RideauJacquie Miller/Postmedia

At least five police officers were at the Wee Medical Dispensary Society on Rideau just east of Nelson Street, next to the Somerset West Community Health Centre.

Police videotaped the scene inside the store, put the cannabis cookies and brownies into plastic bags, and carted everything away by 12:20 p.m. At least one female employee was taken into custody in handcuffs.

At least three customers who were inside the store were questioned and released by police.

Several customers outside the shop said they were upset by the raids. “It’s a great injustice in a neighbourhood where a lot of people end up being busted for simple pot possession,” said Chris VonBormann, who described herself as the “champion of people in Lowertown.”

“There’s a huge amount of crime in this neighbourhood that’s related to pot,” she said. “You set up a place like this, you have a lot less people going through the (criminal justice ) system. It saves a lot of money. And a lot of people who have illnesses and ailments come here.

“Trudeau’s mandated to legalize this stuff. So where are you, Justin?”

Police also moved in on the CannaGreen at 2288 St. Joseph Blvd. in Orléans in the morning and were seen leading a man out in handcuffs. Other officers in black jackets and black balaclavas entered the shop carrying cardboard boxes and satchels.

Later, two more officers arrived with battering rams and pry bars, and could be heard pounding on something metallic inside. The store’s smoked glass windows prevented anyone seeing inside from the sidewalk.

A steady flow of customers arrived throughout the morning to find the store’s front door locked.

Raphael Riche, 22, was one. He stopped by for “a bit of leaf” for recreational use. Riche came to Orléans after he found the police had already shut down his regular shop on Montreal Road.

“I could say it’s for medical use – to help my insomnia, my back – but why bother,” he said. “It’s going to be legal in a few months … I’ll go see one of my buddies. Maybe he can help me out instead.”

Another customer, who would not give his name, said he uses marijuana to control his multiple sclerosis symptoms. He’d been told to try the drug by his sister, who uses it to control the pain of her Stage 4 breast cancer. Her doctors had prescribed morphine, but she refused and used marijuana instead.

“Morphine is so addictive,” said the 50-year-old man. “What’s the worst that can happen with marijuana? You wake up surrounded by Mars bars wrappers.”

The man said he used CannaGreen’s edible products, and found the shop clean and professional.

“What am I going to do now? I’m not going to go to my sister and ask her for some.”

Another customer, Justin, 22, uses marijuana to control anxiety, but came to CannaGreen Friday because he’s applied for a job.

Police also descended on the Green Tree dispensary at 352 Preston St. Friday morning. It was a quiet raid, with some customers turning away from the door only after they noticed the officers inside.

“Is this a bust?” said one man in his 20s, who declined to give his name. “Isn’t this legal?”

Meanwhile, shortly before 11 a.m., more officers moved in carrying tools, and loud banging could be heard from inside.

At about 11:20, officers packed up three cardboard boxes, locked up the dispensary and left.

A woman who answered the phone at the WeeMedical Dispensary Society in Vancouver said the company’s principal, Justin Liu, was in Ottawa Friday but “did not want to be connected to any reporters.”

Ottawa Coun. Mathieu Fleury, who had called on police to close WeeMedical and the two other dispensaries in his ward, said it was about time. He has pushed the police brass for an explanation of why illegal shops were allowed to operate. Fleury also expressed concern that Montreal Road, which is already struggling to attract more upscale businesses, would become “pot row.” Besides the Green Tree outlet that was raided, there is a Weeds Glass & Gifts on Montreal Road. It’s closed temporarily after Canada Post confiscated shipments of cannabis sent there from B.C.

Fleury says he expects police will continue investigating the remaining dispensaries. “I’m confident police have done their homework to do a proper investigation so we win these (cases) in court,” Fleury said.

Police have said they consulted with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, which prosecutes drug crimes, and were assured that any “viable cases” would be prosecuted. But each dispensary has to be investigated individually.

Fleury said the raids may also put more pressure on landlords who rent to dispensaries. Ottawa police have already sent letters to at least 13 landlords, warning them of the consequences of allowing illegal activities on their properties. Several of the landlords have said they had no idea the dispensaries were illegal.

Another landlord evicted a dispensary on Roydon Place, near Hunt Club and Merivale, on Wednesday. The CannaGreen outlet had been selling weed at a crude takeout window carved into the plywood plastered on the front of the store. The storefront was demolished three weeks ago after a truck drove through it.

The day after the eviction, the police drug squad executed a search warrant on the Roydon Place shop.

Police have faced pressure from some residents and city councillors to close the shops. But other Ottawans support the dispensaries or believe it’s a waste of money to close them since the federal government has promised to legalize recreational pot. Public complaints were one factor police said they considered when “prioritizing” investigations by the drug unit against the dispensaries.

The shops operated by the B.C.-based chain are similar. They are sparsely decorated, featuring cases filled with dried weed, cannabis-laced cookies, candy and pop, and an ATM. Staff generally refuse to comment and say they aren’t allowed to reveal the names of the managers or owners.

By The Numbers

9 – the number of people arrested and facing charges including possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime7 – the number of dispensaries targeted across the city, all but one Friday including: 290 Montreal Rd. 352 Preston St. 256 Bank St. 358 Rideau St. 293 St Laurent Blvd. 2288 St Joseph Blvd. 33 Roydon Pl. (on Thursday)

Related

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Market to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.